Container handling machine



Jan. 13, 1942;

G. F. BURTON CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE Filed NOV. 16, 1959 TTORN EY Patented Jan. 13, 1942 CONTAINER HANDLING MACI-HNE George F. Burton, Milton, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 16, 1939, Serial No. 304,654

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical control mechanism for an automatic packaging machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved electrical control mechanism for controlling the operation of a machine, and which is particularly useful in an automatic packaging machine to permit the latter to continue in operation to complete its operations upon the containers in process of production before the machine comes to rest.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the control device for a packaging machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

The drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, shows the present electrical control device embodied in a packaging machine, the latter being shown somewhat diagrammatically.

In general, and for purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown as embodied in a packaging machine for applying adhesive to and closing the top flaps of successive containers or cartons delivered thereto, such a machine being generally known in the trade as a top sealer, although, as will hereinafter be pointed out, the invention may be used with advantage in other forms of packaging or container handling machines, such as weighing, filling or labeling machines, wherein it is desired to clear the machine of containers being operated upon before permitting the machine to come to rest.

In the operation of the illustrated top sealing machine thetop flaps of each carton are spread outwardly for the application of adhesive where'- upon the top flaps are folded over, one upon the other to seal the container. Prior to the present invention, when such a machine was stopped, a number of cartons still remained in the machine in different stages of production, some being unsealed and some being partially sealed. By the time the machine was restarted, the quick drying adhesive, generally used on such machines, became so dry that the unsealed carton-s had to be put through the machine a second time and others, which were only partially sealed, had to be thrown away.

In accordance with the present invention, the machine is provided with control mechanism which has provision for enabling the operator to first discontinue the supply of incoming containers, and has provision for automatically cutting off the power supply to the machine to stop the operation thereof after a predetermined time has elapsed, sufficient to clear the machine of the containers already delivered thereto.

Referring now to the drawing, l0 represents an automatic packaging machine, such as a top sealer, having a continuously moving carrier chain I2 arranged to convey successive cartons through the machine past the usual mechanisms for applying adhesive and for folding over the top flaps to seal the carton. As herein illustrated, the cartons are moved through the machine and successive operations performed thereon during progress therethrough, the carton indicated at M having the top flaps spread for'the' application of adhesive, the carton shown at I6 having one flap folded over, the carton shown at H] having both flaps turned down, and the car'- ton shown at 20 being in the position where it passes under the usual pressure rollers to set the glued flaps.

Inthe operation of the illustrated top sealing machine, provision is made for automatically releasing successive cartons from a line 22 thereof, in timed relation to the operation of the machine. The cartons are delivered to the machine upon a supply belt 24 which may lead from a package filling or weighing machine. The releasing mechanism, which may be operated through suitable connections, not shown, from the top sealer, may comprise a rocker arm 26 having a pusher plate 28 arranged to transfer the foremost carton in the line from a position in front of a'stop ledge 30 into a position to be conveyed into the path of the carrier members 32 of the chain I2. When the completely sealed cartons are discharged from the machine, they are arranged to pass between spaced belts 38 where additional pressure is applied to the top of the cartons during their conveyance to the discharge table 40. As herein shown, the machine is driven by an electric motor 34' through a belt and pulley connection 36.

When it is desired to stop the operation of the machine for a short period of time during a run such as for the purpose of making adjustments or making repairs, etc, the control mechanism is, in accordance with the present invention, arranged to first discontinue the supply of cartons 22 into the machine preferably by rendering the pusher arm 26 inoperative. As herein shown, a solenoid operated latch 42 is arranged to be rocked into the path of the pusher arm at the proper time as will be described. Thereafter, the motor 34 is permitted to continue to drive the machine for a predetermined length of time in order to clear the machine of its cartons whereupon the power supply to the motor 34 is automatically discontinued. to stop the machine, preferably through a time delay relay, as will be described.

The illustrated controlling apparatus comprises five control circuits represented by the numerals No. l, 2, 3, 4 and 5 having lead wires connected to the main circuit 45. The apparatus is shown in its normal condition and the push button A, when depressed, is arranged to close a circuit to a solenoid 50 for operating a control relay indicated at 52 for stopping the machine. Either push button B or C, which may be located at difierent ends of the machine for convenience, is arranged to open a circuit to the solenoid operated control relay 52 which operates to again start the machine.

As herein shown, circuit No. 1 comprises the lead wires 54, 56 which are connected to a solenoid 58 for operating the rocker arm latch 42. Lead wire 56 is connected directly to one terminal of the solenoid 58 and lead wire 54 is connectedthrough terminals 60, 62 by a contact bar 54 forming part of a magnetic circuit breaker indicated at 65. The latch 42, pivotally mounted at 68, is connected by a lever I to the armature 12 of the solenoid 58. The circuit to the solenoid 58 is normally closed to holdthe latch 42 out of the path of the rocker arm 26. In operation, when the circuit is opened at terminals 60, 62, the armature 12 will drop and rock the latch 42 into operative position to hold the rocker arm 26 back and prevent the cartons from being released.

Circuit No. 2 comprises the lead wires 14, 16 and includes the solenoid 50 of the control relay 52 and the push buttons A, B and C. The control relay is provided with contact points 18, 80 and 82, 84, normally open, which are arranged to be closed when the stop buttonA is depressed. The contact points 80 and 84 are connected by lead wires 86, 88 to a solenoid 90 having an armature 9| for operating the magnetic circuit breaker 65. As herein shown, a shunt circuit is provided through the push buttons A, B and C for energizing the solenoid 50 to operate the armature of the control relay 52. The shunt circuit comprises the lead wires 92, 94 and 96 and includes the contact points 98, I00 and lead wire I02. In operation, when the circuit closing button A is depressed the solenoid is energized through the lead wires 92, 04 and 96 to close the contacts at 18, 80 and 82, 84. This movement of the armature 5| also operates to. close the circuit at contact points 98 and I00 and through the lead wire I02 so that when push button A is released to open the circuit through lead wire 94, the solenoid 50 will continue to be energized through the contacts 98, I00 and leads I02, 96. Thereafter, when either push button B or C is depressed, the shunt circuit is opened and the armature 5| drops down to open the circuit at contacts 98, I00.

Circuit No. 3 comprises the lead wires I04, I06 which are connected to a solenoid I08 for operating the time delay relay indicated at H0. Lead wire I06 is connected directly to one terminal of the solenoid I08 and lead wire I04 is connected through terminals I I2, I I4 by a second contact bar H6 forming part of the magnetic circuit breaker 65. The time delay relay H0 comprises the solenoid I00 having an armature H8 arranged to be raised when the circuit is closed through the terminals H2, H4. The armature H8 is provided at its upper end with a contact bar I20 arranged to slidingly engage elongated contact terminals I22, I24 when the solenoid I08 is energized. The other end of the armature is provided with a piston I26 operating in a dash pot I28 filled with oil. The piston is provided with small holes, and, in operation, when the circuit is opened at terminals H2, H4, the armature drops gradually until the contact bar I20 slides below the terminals I22, I24.

As herein illustrated, the elongated terminals I22, I24 form part of circuit No. 4, having lead wires I30, I32 connected to a solenoid I33 for operating the motor switch I85. The motor switch includes an armature I38 having a contact bar I40 arranged to close the motor circuit through terminals I42, I44 when the solenoid I33 is energized. The motor circuit No. 5, comprises the leads |46, I48 connected to the motor 34 through the switch I35 and through an auxiliary manually operated switch I50 which latter may be used When it is desired to open the circuit to the motor abruptly without waiting for the machine to be cleared of the cartons being operated upon.

From the description thus far, it will be observed that, in operation, when the push button switch A is depressed to stop the machine, the solenoid 50 of the relay 52 will be energized which operates to close the circuit through lead wires 86, 88 to energize the solenoid 90 of the magnetic switch 65. This, in turn, operates to raise the armature 9| and the contact bars 64 and H6 to open circuits No. 1 and No. 3. When circuit No. l is opened, the latch 42 will be rocked into operative position to stop the delivery of cartons into the machine. Simultaneously, when circuit No. 3 is opened the solenoid I08 will be deenergized and permit the armature I I8 to drop slowly into the dash pot I28 while the contact bar I20 maintains the connection between the terminals I22, I24 of circuit No. 4. After a predetermined time has elapsed, in the present instance, approximately ten seconds, during which time the cartons in the machine are being discharged therefrom, the contact bar I20 will slide ofi the elongated terminals I22, I24. Thus, circuit No. 4 is opened to deenergize solenoid I33 of the motor switch I35 permitting the armature I38 to drop and thus open the motor circuit, No. 5, at the terminals I42, M4 to stop the machine.

When it is desired to start the machine in operation again, either push button switch B or C is depressed which operates to open the circuit to the solenoid 50 of the control relay permitting the armature 5| to drop to open the circuit to the magnetic switch 65. This action causes the armature 9| to drop, reestablishing the circuits No. 1 and No. 3 to permit the rocker arm 26 to release the cartons into the machine and to start the motor 34 in operation. I

Although the present embodiment of the invention has been described in connection with a packaging machine and more specifically with a top sealing machine, it will be apparent from the above description that the electrical control apparatus herein disclosed may be used with advantage for controlling the operation of any automatic packaging or container handling machine such as a package filling or weighing machine or such as a bottle filling or labeling machine, whereby the machine may be entirely,

being processed and adjustmentswhen the cartons are out of the way. While the preferred embodiment of the" invention has been herein illustrated and described; it will be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other forms'within the scope of the following claims. I r Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An automatic container handling machine having, in combination, a container supply means including a continuously driven supply belt for conveying the containers in a line and in contiguous relation, a stop for holding the line of containers, and a pusher arm adapted to be intermittently operated for periodically releasing successive foremost cartons from said line in timed relation to be received by the machine,

driving means including a single electric motor, and control means for discontinuing the operation of the machine adapted to first discontinue the supply of containers to the machine while permitting the latter to continue at the normal rate of speed and then after a predetermined time has elapsed, sufficient to clear the machine of containers being processed, to discontinue the operation of the machine, said control means comprising a circuit including a solenoid operated latch adapted for interrupting the supply of containers, and a circuit including a time delay relay for discontinuing the power supply to said single electric motor.

2. The combination with an automatic container handling machine having a continuously operated container supply belt for conveying the containers in a line and in contiguous relation, a stop for holding the line of containers, and a pusher arm adapted to be intermittently operated r for periodically releasing successive foremost cartons from said line in timed relation to the machine and driving means including a single electric motor, of electric control apparatus comprising a circuit including a solenoid operated latch adapted to interrupt the supply of containers when said circuit is opened while permitting said motor to continue at the normal rate of speed, a second circuit including a time delay relay adapted to cut off the power supply to said singl motor a predetermined time after said second circuit is opened, and a third circuit including a magnetic switch for simultaneously opening the circuits to said solenoid and said time delay relay, said third circuit including a control relay and means for operating the latter to actuate said magnetic switch.

3. An automatic packaging machine having, in combination, a continuously operated supply belt for delivering containers in a line and in contiguous relation to the machine, a stop for holding the line of containers, means including a rocker arm adapted to be operated in timed relation to the operation of the machine for releasing successive foremost containers delivered by said belt into the machine, means including a single electric motor forfdriving the machine, and-an electrical control mechanism including a solenoid operated latchv for interrupting the movement of said rocker arm to discontinue the supply .Iof containers to themachine while permitting said motor. to continue at its normal rateo'f speed, and. a time delay relay adapted to cut off the power supply to said single driving motor aftera predetermined time has elapsed;

' '4. An automatic packaging machine having-,in combination, a continuously operated supply 'belt for-delivering packages ina line and in contiguous relation to the machine for processing, a stop for :holding the line of packages, means includingva rocker arm adapted tobe operated in timed relation to the'operation of the machine for re leasing from said stop successive foremost containers delivered by said belt, driving means including a single electric motor, and electrical control apparatus comprising a circuit including a solenoid operated latch adapted to interrupt the movement of said rocker arm to discontinuethe supply of containers when said circuit is opened while permitting the machine to continue at its normal rate of speed, a second circuit including a time delay relay, adapted to cut off the power supply to said single motor a predetermined time after said second circuit is opened, and a third circuit including a magnetic switch for simultaneously opening the circuits to said solenoid and said time delay relay, said third circuit including a control relay and means for operating the latter to actuate said magnetic switch.

5. An automatic packaging machine having, in combination, a continuously operated supply belt for delivering packages in a line and in contiguous relation to the machine for processing, a stop for holding the line of packages, means including a rocker arm adapted to be operated in v cluding a time delay relay adapted to out off the power supply to said single motor a predetermined time after said second circuit is opened, and a third circuit including a magnetic switch for simultaneously opening the circuits to said solenoid and said time delay relay, said third circuit including a control relay and means for operating the latter to actuate said magnetic switch whereby the machine is permitted to continue in operation at the same rate of speed for a predetermined length of time after the supply of containers is discontinued in order to complete its processing operations upon the containers in the machine and to discharge the containers therefrom before the machine comes to rest.

6. An automatic packaging machine having, in combination, a continuously operated supply belt for delivering packages in a line and in contiguousrelati-on to the machine for processing, a stop for holding the line of packages, means including a rocker arm adapted to be operated in timed relation to the operation of the machine for releasing from said stop successive foremost containers delivered by said belt, driving means including a single electric motor, and electrical control apparatus comprising a circuit including a solenoid operated latch adapted to interrupt the movement of said rocker arm to discontinue the supply of containers when said circuit is opened while permitting the machine to continue at its normal rate of speed, a second circuit including a time delay relay adapted to cut off the power supply to said single motor a predetermined time after said second circuit is opened, and a third circuit including a magnetic switch for simultaneously opening the circuits to said solenoid and said time delay relay, said third circuit including a control relay and means for operating the latter to actuate said magnetic switch, and means for reestablishin said circuits to their normal condition to again start the machine.

7. An automatic packaging machine having, in combination, a continuously operated supply belt for delivering packages in a line and in contiguous relation to the machine for processing, a stop for holding the line of packages, means including a rocker arm adapted to be operated in timed relation to the operation of the machine for releasing irom said stop successive foremost containers delivered by said belt, driving means including a single electric motor, and electrical control apparatus comprising a circuit including a solenoid operated latch adapted to interrupt the movement of said rocker arm to discontinue the supply of containers when said circuit is opened while permitting the machine to continue at its normal rate of speed, a second circuit ineluding a time delay relay adapted to cut off the power supply to said single motor a predetermined time after said second circuit is opened, and a third circuit including a magnetic switch for simultaneously opening the circuits to said solenoid and said time delay relay, said third circuit including a control relay and means for operating the latter to actuate said magnetic switch, and an auxiliary switch for cutting oil the power supply to said motor abruptly independently of said time delay relay.

GEORGE F. BURTON. 

